Welcome to NoVa Youth Ensembles
Our Mission
By 2028, NoVa Youth Ensembles will create and sustain accessible and inclusive ensembles that cater to all students, no matter their economic status or ability while building a bridge to embrace our diverse community by partnering with community centers, churches, and senior living centers.
Vision
Provide a link between the community and young musicians by giving students opportunities to to support our communities through concerts, outreach to younger students and the elderly which will create lasting bonds that span generations.
Why NoVa Youth Ensembles?
NoVa youth ensembles cater to the Northwest corridor of Fairfax and Loudoun counties, specifically, Herndon, Reston, and Sterling where there are no local ensembles. Other ensemble opportunities are located further away. We are also one of the first ensembles in the area that are inclusive as all students are accepted regardless of skill level and financial status. Additionally, we have a broader vision to include all musical ensembles, including orchestra, band, choir, guitar, and percussion.
Expected Launch Dates for All NoVa Youth Ensembles
2024-25
3 String Ensembles for Middle and High School students
Bucket Drumming Ensemble for elementary school students
2025-26
Wind Ensemble for Middle and High School Students
Guitar for Middle and High School Students
2026-27
Elementary School Choir
World Percussion Ensemble
Building Community Relationships and Outreach
The youth orchestra is looking forward to partnering with The Herndon Senior Center, a community center for adults 50 and older. Concerts are for senior residents to engage with young musicians.
Music profoundly impacts seniors' well-being. For older adults, engaging with music offers multiple benefits: enhances mood, evolks cherished memories, fosters social connections, promotes cognitive stimulation, and supports overall mental health.
The young musicians interact weekly with senior residents, sharing music and building relationships. This experience provides ensemble students with a unique opportunity to witness firsthand how music creates and nurtures intergenerational community bonds.
Each ensemble will be based in a community center, church, or senior center, fostering connections that span across our community.
NoVa Youth Ensembles create high-caliber performance groups without pressure. The ensemble meets once a week for 60 minutes. These ensembles offer a great opportunity for students who cannot participate in their school music programs due to academic burdens. Now, students have a viable outlet to continue their musical studies outside of school and can return to their school ensembles when their schedules allow. This provides significant benefits for both students and schools, which often compete with other programs. All NoVa Youth Ensembles are filled with joy and fun. Our goal is to give each musician the tools to create beautiful music in a relaxed atmosphere. We meet each musician where they are musically and help them grow both musically and personally.
Our goals
-
Foster Musical Growth: Help you flourish as a musician, developing your skills and confidence.
-
Expand Musical Horizons: Introduce you to new and diverse musical repertoire, broadening your artistic perspective.
-
Cultivate Passion: Instill and nurture a lifelong love for music.
-
Deepen Understanding: Enhance your comprehension of each piece, exploring its context, structure, and emotional depth.
-
Build Community: Provide a collaborative environment where you contribute to something greater than yourself.
Laura Redlisky-Readyoff
Founder
Laura Redlisky-Readyoff, founder of NoVa Youth Ensembles and owner of The Music Loft, is a master educator with over 30 years of experience working with middle and high school students. Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree in music education from the prestigious Crane School of Music in New York, as well as master's degrees in music education and public school administration (K-12) from Long Island University. Throughout her career, Ms.Readyoff has conducted award-winning orchestras in both New York and Virginia. Her expertise has led to roles as an adjudicator for multiple solo and ensemble festivals across both states. Currently, she serves as a strings consultant for Loudoun County public schools. Deeply committed to community engagement, Ms. Readyoff is involved in multiple outreach programs and dedicates numerous volunteer hours to string and music programs in Northern Virginia. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes creativity and fun, aiming to build students' confidence, inspire and challenge them, and instill a love for music. Under her leadership, The Music Loft has become a center of excellence for music education, offering various programs including Percussion Works, NoVa Youth Ensembles, and the Play it Forward Instrument Donation Drive. Ms. Readyoff's contributions to the arts community have earned her several accolades, including the "Distinguished Volunteer" and "The President’s Award” awarded by Arts Herndon for her work in the arts community, and the "Arts Leader" award from the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce.